Stoptech Street Pads Review

[Nition]

So I see that a few of you have asked for a review of these pads and I'll go ahead and give it a go. I've had these pads for about 3,000 miles. I have done a full day on the track with these and plenty of abuse. These pads were installed along with Stoptech Stainless Steel Brake Lines and Ate Super Gold.

My verdict is that these do not provide the fade resistance required for a full day at the track. I did a total of 6 20-minute sessions on the track (Thunderhill) with about 20-30 minutes in between each session. They held up well in the first 3 sessions but were fading after that. The 6th session was just brutal. They were fading so badly that I decided to pit early to let them rest. I am not a seasoned track driver. Hence, I think these will not take the abuse of a good driver. However, these provide excellent stopping power and are perfect for aggressive street driving.

On the street, these make no noise at all. The braking feels much more natural (if this makes sense at all) than the stock setup. It seems to be fairly gentle on the rotors as well, but only time will tell. All in all, I think it's definitely worth the money. The description is pretty accurate. It's great for the street and >>LIGHT<< track use.

[bigjae1976]

Is Thunderhill tough on brakes?

I'm wondering because I go to Texas World Speedway and there is really only 2 or 3 places where you really hammer the brakes. None of the heavy braking zones are close to each other.

[4sevens.com]

I just got my st trophies so I'm not speaking with specific experience - but driving style has a big part of it as well. if you drag out your breaking period instead of braking hard and just getting it done you'll manage the heat much better. I ran one lap of america on stock calipers and did just fine and was very competitive.

bottom line - brake less, go faster

[yyoo]

Originally Posted by Nition

So I see that a few of you have asked for a review of these pads and I'll go ahead and give it a go. I've had these pads for about 3,000 miles. I have done a full day on the track with these and plenty of abuse. These pads were installed along with Stoptech Stainless Steel Brake Lines and Ate Super Gold.

My verdict is that these do not provide the fade resistance required for a full day at the track. I did a total of 6 20-minute sessions on the track (Thunderhill) with about 20-30 minutes in between each session. They held up well in the first 3 sessions but were fading after that. The 6th session was just brutal. They were fading so badly that I decided to pit early to let them rest. I am not a seasoned track driver. Hence, I think these will not take the abuse of a good driver. However, these provide excellent stopping power and are perfect for aggressive street driving.

On the street, these make no noise at all. The braking feels much more natural (if this makes sense at all) than the stock setup. It seems to be fairly gentle on the rotors as well, but only time will tell. All in all, I think it's definitely worth the money. The description is pretty accurate. It's great for the street and >>LIGHT<< track use.

Did you have a soft pedal? Perhaps you were boiling your brake fluid.

[yyoo]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

Is Thunderhill tough on brakes?

I'm wondering because I go to Texas World Speedway and there is really only 2 or 3 places where you really hammer the brakes. None of the heavy braking zones are close to each other.

It's medium for brakes. 2 hard and 2 medium-hard braking zones.

Added: The 2 hard ones are back-to-back.

[Erhan]

Originally Posted by 4sevens.com

I just got my st trophies so I'm not speaking with specific experience - but driving style has a big part of it as well. if you drag out your breaking period instead of braking hard and just getting it done you'll manage the heat much better. I ran one lap of america on stock calipers and did just fine and was very competitive.

bottom line - brake less, go faster

makes a big difference (and requires bigger balls).

Also, don't step on the brakes at 10/10 right after coming off the gas. Quickly (but gently) do 6/10 - 8/10 and then 10/10. This way you give sometime for car to shift the weight to front and settle. This will give better stability and also enables harder braking.

[4sevens.com]

I can overheat any setup if I want

[Slapshot9]

I believe that Hawk HP Plus pads provide the best combination of street and track. I have not used StopTech, but have used many pads including track only (Hawk Blues and PFC 01) and find these very close (80%) to a track pad that can offer great street stoppage. They are noisy, which I kind of like.

[yyoo]

Originally Posted by 4sevens.com

bottom line - brake less, go faster

Of course, the faster you go the more you'll have to brake.

I think most beginners tend to be both slow and not brake hard enough. Granted, once they learn that they can stomp on the brakes without the car exploding they can overdo it in the other direction.

Getting off topic, but this reminds me of something I read in a book.

There are three, make that four, stages to a driver's development:

0. Fast in, slow out...or slow in, slow out
1. Slow in, fast out
2. Fast in, fast out
3. Fast in, fast mid-corner, fast out

Many good drivers never make it to step #3.

[LiM3y]

Originally Posted by yyoo

Of course, the faster you go the more you'll have to brake.

I think most beginners tend to be both slow and not brake hard enough. Granted, once they learn that they can stomp on the brakes without the car exploding they can overdo it in the other direction.

Getting off topic, but this reminds me of something I read in a book.

There are three, make that four, stages to a driver's development:

0. Fast in, slow out...or slow in, slow out
1. Slow in, fast out
2. Fast in, fast out
3. Fast in, fast mid-corner, fast out

Many good drivers never make it to step #3.

This works with the ladies too...

[Richard@M-World]

Originally Posted by Nition

So I see that a few of you have asked for a review of these pads and I'll go ahead and give it a go. I've had these pads for about 3,000 miles. I have done a full day on the track with these and plenty of abuse. These pads were installed along with Stoptech Stainless Steel Brake Lines and Ate Super Gold.

My verdict is that these do not provide the fade resistance required for a full day at the track. I did a total of 6 20-minute sessions on the track (Thunderhill) with about 20-30 minutes in between each session. They held up well in the first 3 sessions but were fading after that. The 6th session was just brutal. They were fading so badly that I decided to pit early to let them rest. I am not a seasoned track driver. Hence, I think these will not take the abuse of a good driver. However, these provide excellent stopping power and are perfect for aggressive street driving.

On the street, these make no noise at all. The braking feels much more natural (if this makes sense at all) than the stock setup. It seems to be fairly gentle on the rotors as well, but only time will tell. All in all, I think it's definitely worth the money. The description is pretty accurate. It's great for the street and >>LIGHT<< track use.

This is a very fair review The stock rotors tend to have higher operating temperatures on the track and would likely exceed the operating temperature of the Street Performance pads. On the other hand, BBK rotors tend to stay cooler, so the SP pads can remain consistent over a longer period of time on the track.

[paradocs98]

Originally Posted by Richard@M-World

This is a very fair review The stock rotors tend to have higher operating temperatures on the track and would likely exceed the operating temperature of the Street Performance pads. On the other hand, BBK rotors tend to stay cooler, so the SP pads can remain consistent over a longer period of time on the track.

This makes sense, Richard. I was wondering why my experience has been different from that of the OP regarding StopTech Street Performance pads in a track setting. It's most likely because the OP is using the pads in the setting of the OEM brakes while I'm using them with a StopTech BBK. I've experienced good performance with these pads, even on 90-degree summer days on tracks where a 25-min session sees 15+ laps with 135-->50mph braking zones. I haven't noticed a great deal of fade. A set of front pads seems to be good for about 4-5 HPDE events.

That being said, I am looking for a more aggressive, track-focused pad for this coming track season--Hawk HP Plus, Pagid RS29?

[Gearhead999s]

The Stoptech street pads are a great street pad but in IMO are only a light duty track pad.I have used them twice on track and yes they did work OK at the expense of a lot of pad wear and good pedal feel as they felt "squshy" at max braking.I run a 380/355 BBK and have found that that I can run the Pagid race pads on the street with no ill effects except for a little bit of squeel and grabiness when cold.The Pagids also seem to be quite rotor friendly even when they are used cold on the street.

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by paradocs98

I've experienced good performance with these pads, even on 90-degree summer days on tracks where a 25-min session sees 15+ laps with 135-->50mph braking zones. I haven't noticed a great deal of fade. A set of front pads seems to be good for about 4-5 HPDE events.

I think you won't have an issue in this single scenario. The question is...what is the next turn like? Is it a short straight where you go from 90 to 40 mph? Then that's where these pads will likely fall off.

[swartzentruber]

Originally Posted by erhanh

Also, don't step on the brakes at 10/10 right after coming off the gas. Quickly (but gently) do 6/10 - 8/10 and then 10/10. This way you give sometime for car to shift the weight to front and settle. This will give better stability and also enables harder braking.

Yeah, I've had instructors before tell me the best way to manage this is to repeat "Hard, Harder, Hardest" (no smartass comments needed from LiM3y ) to yourself going into every braking zone as a good way to remember this.

I didn't notice at first the OP was reporting on usage with stock rotors. Knowing that, the experience doesn't surprise me at all. Once you get "fast", I doubt there is any street/track pad that will be aggressive enough to avoid fade with stock rotors. It does seem like there are plenty though that find this pad works with the Stoptech BBK, likely for the reason mentioned above. I just bought the ST-40 for my R32, and plan to try this pad before switching to a track-only pad. Hopefully my experience will mirror the M3 owners running this pad with ST-40s.

[Nition]

Originally Posted by yyoo

Did you have a soft pedal? Perhaps you were boiling your brake fluid.

No, I don't think it was the fluid. It didn't feel mushy at all.

[Nition]

Originally Posted by 4sevens.com

I just got my st trophies so I'm not speaking with specific experience - but driving style has a big part of it as well. if you drag out your breaking period instead of braking hard and just getting it done you'll manage the heat much better. I ran one lap of america on stock calipers and did just fine and was very competitive.

bottom line - brake less, go faster

This is one of the things I learnt in one of my earlier sessions. I brake very hard and I try to spend as little time braking as possible. You're probably a much better driver than I am. Hence, you probably know how to manage the brake fade better than I do. Also, the short breaks in between sessions didn't allow for the brakes to cool off enough I think. For the 3rd session and all sessions after that, I started with brakes that were still hot.

[Nition]

Originally Posted by erhanh

makes a big difference (and requires bigger balls).

Also, don't step on the brakes at 10/10 right after coming off the gas. Quickly (but gently) do 6/10 - 8/10 and then 10/10. This way you give sometime for car to shift the weight to front and settle. This will give better stability and also enables harder braking.

This also probably added to the excessive brake fade. I tend to stab the brakes hard right after getting off the throttle.

[Erhan]

Originally Posted by Nition

This is one of the things I learnt in one of my earlier sessions. I brake very hard and I try to spend as little time braking as possible. You're probably a much better driver than I am. Hence, you probably know how to manage the brake fade better than I do. Also, the short breaks in between sessions didn't allow for the brakes to cool off enough I think. For the 3rd session and all sessions after that, I started with brakes that were still hot.

I'd say get brake ducts. One of the best things you can do.

I think it is embarrassing that M3 doesn't come with brake ducts. My MINI Cooper comes with them from the factory.

[aus]

Are these the Street Pads or the Street Sport pads?
Stoptech said they've had racers use their Streeet Sport pads without issues, other than they wear faster.

Originally Posted by Slapshot9

I believe that Hawk HP Plus pads provide the best combination of street and track. I have not used StopTech, but have used many pads including track only (Hawk Blues and PFC 01) and find these very close (80%) to a track pad that can offer great street stoppage. They are noisy, which I kind of like.

HP+ is a decent track pad, but pretty dusty and a little loud for street use.

.

[Richard@M-World]

Originally Posted by paradocs98

That being said, I am looking for a more aggressive, track-focused pad for this coming track season--Hawk HP Plus, Pagid RS29?

RS29 is a great choice because it offers med-high bite (coefficient of friction 0.49 max) up to 1,100 deg. F and is easy on rotors. Also known for its low wear rate.

If you want something more aggressive, I now carry Project Mu's Club Racer compound (coefficient of friction 0.55 max) with a recommendation from my friends at Brass Monkey Racing. They used to run DTC-70 on their race car, but switched to Project Mu because PMu pads are much easier on the rotors while providing virtually zero fade performance up to 1,400 deg. F.

[STALKER]

RS29s are awesome pads. I used them last track season with my AP set up. Great performance and were surprisingly street friendly too. Little on the pricey side, but well worth it.